Fashion Week Model Was Living in Orphanage Just Weeks Ago

The Dominican Republic beauty landed a spot on the catwalk after two months in New York

by Lesley Kennedy • MORE.com Reporter

It seems fitting that Fashion Week should come with a Cinderella story.

Today reports Fior Mendez, who was living in a Dominican Republic orphanage just weeks ago, found herself modeling in a New York Fashion Week show September 7.

The 22-year-old was forced to leave her orphanage because of her age, according to the news show. A friend of the organization that runs the orphanage then offered to bring Mendez to New York so she could study English and follow her modeling dreams, Today says.

Only two months later, she was walking the runway for Nzinga Knight as part of the Harlem’s Fashion Row runway show held at Lincoln Center, the news show reports.

“I’m overwhelmed emotionally. It’s a dream,” Mendez tells Today through an interpreter. “I couldn’t imagine that a person like me would be doing this in New York City.”